Technical problems in recognizing and monitoring infant apnea

The need for improvements in current monitor design, judging by equipment marketed in the past five years, is evident in two samples of monitor response generated in the author's laboratory. Great variation is found in the accuracy and specificity of alarms generated in both the respiration and heart rate circuitry of infant monitors currently marketed for clinical use in both the hospital and home. A sample is presented of the range of questions to be answered and problems to be addressed by the clinicians and engineers involved in setting standards in this area. This is pertinent for the preparation of a mandatory standard by the FDA for the design and response of infant apnea monitors.<>